BASKETBALL Egerton Canute II 38 Bury Blue Devils 82 (From Bury Times)

BASKETBALL Egerton Canute II 38 Bury Blue Devils 82

10:00am Thursday 24th January 2013 in Sport

BURY cleared away the post-Christmas cobwebs with a Manchester Area Basketball League Division One victory at Knutsford.

Chris Stainton opened the scoring for the second-placed local side before Charlie Cuthbert found his range from distance. Egerton scored their own points close in to stay within reach, however, and Bury held only a slender two-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Player-coach Mike Nichols got into the action with a pair of free throws but Egerton countered.

Bury then put together a run with big man Conor Wilkinson hitting the target. At the half-way point Bury held a nine-point lead.

Defence wins games and ultimately championships and Bury demonstrated this by scoring 21 unanswered points.

Veteran Stu Jackson found his mark, hustling inside, Cuthbert hit three shots from long range with youngster Ajaz Wadood getting inside for points thanks to fine passing by Jason Knowles. The quarter finished with Bury leading by 30.

Bury changed tactics for guard Ant Morris to score to put everyone on the scoresheet. Playing in a new role he adapted well and just missed the basket on a few occasions.

The home defence locked down with Egerton holding the Blue Devils to only seven points but the visitors ran out winners by a comfortable margin.

Bury travelled to Warrington last night and remain the only team to have beaten the table toppers this season.